About a week ago, I was visiting some friends of mine, the parents and three children, two boys and a girl, all still in elementary school. While we were sitting inside the house having a meal, the kids were playing outside. But then one of the boys came into the house screaming: Mom! mom! My brother used a bad word! And the mom told him -- next time just talk to your brother, tell him that he shouldn’t be using that word because it is bad. Don’t just come to me and report to me. And if he still doesn’t listen, then you can tell us. “Jesus said to his disciples: If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have won over your brother.” Jesus, just like a wise parent, knows how important it is to correct someone in private. Because if you correct someone in private, that means that you really care about that person. That way no one else would know the faults of that person, but only you and her or him. Otherwise, if you start gossiping, or telling others about it, you may do more harm than good. Only if that person doesn’t listen to or ignores you and her or his wrongdoing is harmful to others, then it is time to talk to others. Perhaps others would know how to react and how to help.
Comments